Sewing

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June 12, 2022July 10, 2023

Introduction (for those new to this website): Tamara Rubin is a federal-award-winning independent advocate for consumer goods safety and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children, her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005. Since 2009 Tamara has been using XRF testing (a scientific method used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)…

Is your grandmother’s sewing machine dangerous? 1948 Singer Sewing Machine in Table: 6,238 ppm Lead (in the gold paint).

April 5, 2021July 6, 2024

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Sewing | Sewing Machine | Sewing Supplies | Sewing Tools

Here’s a photo of my son wearing the first sewing project he made on his “new-to-him” vintage sewing machine this past week! It’s a hat (for clowning and unicycling while busking in Boston)! Introduction (for those new to this website): Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for consumer goods safety and a documentary filmmaker. She is also…

Are your sewing tools Leaded? Optima fabric measuring guide with yellow & black markings: 3010 ppm Lead

July 12, 2020July 10, 2023

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Introduction (for those new to this website): Tamara Rubin is a federal-award-winning independent advocate for consumer goods safety and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children, her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005. Since 2009 Tamara has been using XRF testing (a scientific method used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)…

Dritz purple vinyl “Fun Tape Measure”: package says it has Lead, but it tests Lead-Free!

March 18, 2020July 10, 2023

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Introduction: Tamara Rubin is a federal-award-winning independent advocate for consumer goods safety and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children, her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005. Since 2009 Tamara has been using XRF testing (a scientific method used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) to test consumer goods for toxicants…

Antique child’s thimble “For A Good Girl”: 839,800 ppm Lead (90 ppm is unsafe for kids) + 139,600 ppm Antimony.

January 20, 2020April 5, 2021

When tested with an XRF instrument this antique (likely c. 1920-1940) child’s thimble (given as a reward to children who have done a good job with a sewing project!) that has the words “For A Good Girl” on the side…. had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 839,800 +/- 6,000 ppm Antimony (Sb): 139,600 +/- 2,500…

Made in Taiwan Vintage Blue Vinyl Measuring Tape for Sewing: Lead Free, Cadmium Free, Arsenic Free, Mercury Free.

May 23, 2019January 21, 2023

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When tested with a Niton XL3T XRF instrument in consumer goods mode this blue vinyl unbranded measuring tape (with black writing, pictured here) had the following readings: On the vinyl part of the tape: Barium (Ba): 2,050 +/- 75 ppm Zinc (Zn): 415 +/- 37 ppm Copper (Cu): 87 +/- 31 ppm Iron (Fe): 130…

Not So Old…German Dritz Blue and White Vinyl Measuring Tape for Sewing: 1,372 ppm Lead. [90 ppm is unsafe for kids.]

May 23, 2019April 5, 2021

When tested with a Niton XL3T XRF instrument in consumer goods mode this blue and white vinyl Dritz brand measuring tape (pictured here, marked “Germany” and “Dritz”, purchased by my friend 15 or 20 years ago, c. 2000) had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 1,372 +/- 59 ppm Barium (Ba): 2,234 +/- 82 ppm Antimony…

Vintage Red Vinyl Measuring Tape for Sewing: 4,054 ppm Lead. [90 ppm Lead is unsafe in kids items.]

May 22, 2019July 12, 2020

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When tested with a Niton XL3T XRF instrument in consumer goods mode this red vinyl “Made in China” vintage measuring tape (pictured here) had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 4,054 +/- 121 ppm Barium (Ba): 823 +/- 82 ppm Bromine (Br): 31 +/- 9 ppm Copper (Cu): 74 +/- 41 ppm Metals not listed were…

Singer Sewing Machines Vintage Pink Vinyl Measuring Tape: 3,783 ppm Lead. [90 ppm Lead is unsafe in kids items.]

May 21, 2019May 21, 2019

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When tested with a Niton XL3T XRF instrument in consumer goods mode this measuring tape (pictured here) had the following readings: Lead (Pb): 3,783 +/- 98 ppm Barium (Ba): 435 +/- 63 ppm Bromine (Br): 35 +/- 7 ppm Copper (Cu): 54 +/- 34 ppm Iron (Fe): 126 +/- 68 ppm Metals not listed were…

Vintage Fisher Price Little People Sewing Machine: 2,309 ppm Lead [90 is unsafe for kids] + 126 ppm Arsenic

October 3, 2018April 5, 2021

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Vintage Fisher Price Little People Sewing Machine Doll House Toy. Green & Blue Plastic. Year of Manufacture Unknown (presumed c. 1970s). To see more vintage Fisher Price items I have tested, click here. The XRF test results for this exact item (pictured above) are as follows: Green Plastic of Sewing Machine Table: Lead (Pb): 2,309…

Vintage Vinyl Measuring Tape (for Sewing): 19,900 ppm Lead. [90 ppm Lead is unsafe for kids.]

November 19, 2017December 29, 2021

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Originally posted, November 19, 2017 Link to this post on Facebook (so you can share it!) Measuring Tape – Soft Plastic, Made in China. When tested with a Niton XRF instrument it was positive for Lead with the following reading: 19,900 parts per million (ppm). To learn more about XRF testing, Click Here. Later I thought…